Why a Full Community Brochure is Helpful to You!

A Full Community Brochure is Filled with Information You Need. Be sure to ask for a full community brochure if not offered.

There is a sheet in the full brochure listing items included in your home purchase. This list is titled something like: "Outstanding Features of your new home." It is a list of included features and benefits. This is the list you want to see.

Go through the list and check off things you want that are on the list. The list will also remind you of things that are missing.
After checking off the things you want in what we'll call Community A, do the same for another community you have seen, Community B. Only compare items that are desirable for you to have as top priority. Here is an example of what I did:

Community A:

• Cathedral ceilings … check
• Eat in kitchen with Island and sunny in the morning … check (reminder: check lighting at location I choose)
• Gas range … check
• Wood floors…check
• Walkin shower .. check
• Fireplace …check
• Gated entry … check
• Outdoor Pool .. check
• Energy Star .. check
• Walk trail
• Low Taxes
• medical and fire 10 minutes

Missing from Community A:

• Granite counters was an option
• No indoor pool which meant I could only swim during the warm season
• No whirlpool tub offered
• No night patrol
• No restaurant
• Some traffic noise
• No nearby shopping to walk to if it was necessary (was there a shuttle)
• Ocean beaches 20 minutes

Community B: (I did not receive a full brochure at community B which made my information limited.)

• 2 heated pools .. indoor and out.. check
• Indoor spa .. check
• Elegant clubhouse .. check
• Ceramic floors standard .. check
• Upgraded kitchen cabinets standard .. check
• Granite countertops were included .. check
• Fireplace .. check
• 24 hour manned gated entry with night patrol .. check .. check
• extra large water heater .. check
• whirlpool tub offered as option . .. check
• Gas range..check
• Energy Star..check
• Low taxes..check
• miles of Walking path .. check
• ocean beaches 5 minutes .. check..check
• Quaint town
• Location isolated but away from traffic noise
• Shopping 10 minutes

Missing:

• Wood floors optional
• No restaurant
• Shopping 30 minutes
• medical and fire 20 minutes

Both communities were in the same price and square footage range. The Community B offered more of what I was looking for and had more of the options I wanted included in the price. The definite plus was the 24 hour manned patrol at Community B and being near beaches.
So by comparing the items on the Feature list, I had a pretty good idea of which community I would prefer.
Instead of listing what I wanted, I checked off what the communities offered. This way I kept an open mind.
Doing these comparisons will help you define what is important to you.